Large parts of Ireland's environment is in a worse state today than 20 years ago, a major report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. Bird species, including the corncrake and the curlew, are almost extinct. There has been a "dramatic reduction" in the number of pristine rivers with high water quality. Report co-editor Dr Jonathan Dernham said there was a need for integrated policies to protect the environment. "We have not done well on nature protection, and we have lost some of our highest quality waters while at the same time reducing the number of seriously polluted waters," he said. "If it was a school report card, it would be 'could do better'. We're winning and losing at the same time. The real challenge for the State is we're seeing that improvement is inconsistent and sporadic, as the joined-up policies are not there." Water quality in lakes is deteriorating, and there has been "no improvement" in river water quality in six years. EPA said that raised bogs and species-rich grasslands were under threat, and that the range of birds - including the curlew, lapwing, common sandpiper, golden plover, merlin, ring ouzel, snipe and teal - has reduced. The distribution of several farmland birds - including the corncrake, grey partridge and yellowhammer - is also "restricted". Some 43 species of Irish moths are threatened, and 37 of the 185 bird species which breed for winter in Ireland are considered endangered.
Source: Irish Independent, 8 November 2016
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/some-of-irelands-favourite-birds-a…
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